Clothes tongs



Patented Apr. 3, 1928.

nairan ,srarss WILLraM a. VLovvn',vor Anncn, or-rro.

p temat CLOTHES TONGS.

' Application filed March 12 This invention relates to new and useful improvements in tongs for faclitating the removal of clothes from a boiler or the stirring of the lsame therein, the primary object of the invention residing in the provision of a pair of tong members that are normally open at their clothes engaging ends a articular ivotal s rin connection 7 g being providecl between the members adjacent their opposite ends for normally maintaining said clothes engagng ends in open position, said spring connection being of relatively simple construction and readily detachably associated with the tong members so as to permit of the application of a new pivot spring connection therebetween should the original spring connection become lifeless or broken.

A further and most important object of this invention resides in the provision of a covering for the hinged ends of the tong members so as to prevent the pinching of 'the hand between lthe normally closed ends thereof, this being one of the greatest disadvantages in the use of tongs now generally in use.

With the foregoing and other objects in view as the nature of the invention will be better undcrstood, the same comprises the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawing and claimed.

In the drawing wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughoutthe several views:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved clothes tong, the covering for the inner ends of the tong members being partly broken away for more clearly disclosing the manner of association of theppivot spring with the members.

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the tongs said covering for the normally closed ends thereof being also partially broken away, and

Figure 3 is a detail transverse section taken beneath the pivot spring connection between the tong members and looking in an upward direction.

Now having particular reference to the drawing, my novel device consists of a pair of tong legs 5-5 of predetermined length and material, the same being` preferablyV rounded at their edges as more clearly indicated in Figure 3 for lessening the lia- 1827. serial nogwase.

bility o-f pinching oneis handstherebetween duringl the operation` of said tongs.v Arranged between these vtong legs 5-5 adjacent the upper ends thereof is a coil spring 6, the ends of which are extended into relatively large circular convolutes 7-7 that are arranged upon the edges of said tong legs and frictionally bind thereagainst as clearly disclosed in all three of the figures.

Said coil 6 between the tong legs '5-5 serves as a pivotal connection therebetween, the Wire forming` the same extends upwardly from the enlarged circular convolutes 7-7, crossing from one tong leg to the other as indicated by the dotted lines in Fgure 1, these portions of the material forming' the spring being designatedV 8-8, the extreme upper ends thereof 'beingbent laterally inwardly as at 9. for engagement within slots 10 in the outer surfaces of the legs 5-5V as more clearly indicated in Figure 2. At the end of each lateral portion 9, the wire forming the same is bent inwardly to provide a pin 11 for engagement within a socket in the respective leg as indicated by the dotted lines in Figure 1, this pin and socket connection affording a positive attaohment between the spring pivot and the legs to prevent the movement of the spring between the legs and also serving as a means for normally swinging the upper ends of the legs together. Furthermore, when these legs 5-5 are pressed inwardly at a point be- 'neath the pivotal connection, an expansion of the large circular end convolutes 7-7 as well as the spring 6 will be occasioned so that as soon as pressure upon the legs is released, the clothes gripping ends thereof will automatically move to open position.. i

A flexible covering 12 is disposed over the spring co-nnected end of the legs for the purpose of preventing the hands of the person using the tongs being pinched in a mannor ireadily obvious from the construction shown in the drawing.

Upon the clothes gripping ends of the legs 5-5 there is disposed frictional gripping members 13-13 preferably in the form of sleeves of rubber, rubberized fabric or other suitable material.

lt will thus be seen that I have provided simple and inenpensive clothes tongs that are well adapted for all the purposes heretofore designated. Even though I have herein shown and described the invention as consisting of certain .detail structural ele-.

`me'nts it' is nevertheless to be uderstood that W ends of the eol being formed With large eonvolutons extendng' acros the adjacent sdesV of the legs, the ends of the Wire extending from the convolutions oblquely aerossthe shorter ends of the legs and hafvng their extremities `secured fto said ends abuttng relation.`

I testimony whereof aflix my signature.

WILLIAJs'r of; Lowe.

. and normallyV holding said ends together in 

